Freak weather baffles city
Chandigarh, April 11
City residents witnessed heavy rain accompanied by strong winds here late last evening. The city came to a halt due to the downpour as the roads leading to the main sectors were filled with water. Strong wind knocked down tree branches in various sectors, including Sectors 27, 15, 22 and 24. There were reports of windscreens of vehicles being smashed in the rain.

A pedestrian tries to make his way through broken branches of a tree near the Tribune roundabout following heavy rain and dust storm in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

‘Deserted’ dispensaries harry patientsDoctors deputed at 20 centres summoned for tuberculosis control programme
Chandigarh, April 11
Patient care at Ayush dispensaries in the city went for a toss today as doctors deputed in all the 20 dispensaries were asked to join the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme
(RNTCP) being conducted at Sector 22.

A patient stands dejected at the ‘closed’ dispensary in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Kidnappers had planned to kill NRINine injections, sedatives recovered; accused in 6-day police custody
Chandigarh, April 11
After collecting the ransom amount, the kidnappers had planned to eliminate NRI Navneet Singh. The revelation came to light after the Crime Branch of the UT police recovered nine injections, disposable syringes and sedatives from the possession of the accused. All the six kidnappers were produced in court and remanded in six-day police custody.

PEC sticks to closed-door Senate meetingsMembers boycott meeting for not receiving agenda on time yet again, complain to Director
Chandigarh, April 11
Senate members at Punjab Engineering College (PEC) today boycotted the Senate meeting for receiving the agenda in the morning, which should have been delivered a week before.

Tricity scan
Orientation programme
Anee’s School organised an orientation programme for students who rejoined its campus today. During the orientation programme, the newcomers were introduced to the faculty members and the exciting world of education through audio-visual aids and presentations.

Sheer talent: A gatka player exhibits his skills during a procession organised by the Sector 29 gurdwara in Chandigarh on Wednesday.
tribune photo: S. Chandan

MC does little to control stray dog population
Chandigarh, April 11
Ironically, stray dog menace in the city is increasing day by day while at the same time funds allocated by the municipal corporation for controlling the canine population are shrinking every year.

Complaint authority recommends action against 2 policemenHad sided with accused and threatened complainant
Chandigarh, April 11
The Police Complaint Authority (PCA) has recommended action against an ASI and head constable posted with the Sector 31 police station for harassing a complainant. The PCA has also ordered police protection for
the victim.

Train tickets
Reservation time up, waiting lists get longer
Chandigarh, April 11
The 30-day extension of reservation period for train tickets has resulted in long waiting lists. A rise in passenger volume owing to the approaching summer holidays has led to long waiting lists as far as train reservation from the city is concerned.

Heralding Baisakhi: Giddha being performed in connection with Baisakhi in the fields near Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

MC says no to noticesEstate Office had directed the civic body to penalise illegal tower owners
Chandigarh, April 11
Municipal Corporation (MC) and Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) have refused to issue notices to the illegal mobile towers owners in the area which are under their preview as directed by the estate office. Recently the estate office had issued directions to the MC and CHB to issue notice to the illegal tower owners in their areas under their jurisdiction.

Preparation for PM’s visit in full swing
Panchkula, April 11
While the artisans are giving final touches to their artifacts for the silver jubilee celebrations of the Zonal Cultural Centres at the Parade Ground, Sector 5, the security agencies are also working in full swing as Prime
Minister Manmohal Singh will be the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the event.

UT notifies nine sub-committees
Chandigarh, April 11
The UT Administration, today, notified nine sub-committees of the Municipal Corporation. The approval of the two committees including primary health and primary education has been held up by the administration, as these were constituted for the first time.

Depot holders organise protest march, demand salary
Mohali , April 11
Members of the Depot Holders Joint Action Committee, Punjab have urged the Chief Minister to give them salaries and other expenses to run the government’s atta-dal scheme, failing which they will be unable to further implement the scheme.

Traffic violations: 102 vehicles impounded, 298 owners challaned
Chandigarh, April 11
Continuing to crack a whip against traffic violations, the State Transport Authority (STA) has challaned 298 vehicle owners and impounded 102 vehicles for violating traffic rules across the city during the month-long drive conducted in March. A fine of Rs 8.91 lakh was also recovered from the violators.

Three-tier security cover for IPL matches
Mohali, April 11
A three tier security cover will be provided by the police during the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches to be played in the PCA stadium here. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, Mohali, while addressing a press conference here today said that check posts were being set up and the security would be tightened in and arond the stadium, specially at the entry gates and parking areas.

Scintillating sitar recital mesmerises city residents
Chandigarh, April 11
The soulful strains of sitar weaved webs of melody during a scintillating music recital by Dr Ashok Kumar, which marked the 174th Baithak Programme organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra here today.
It was indeed elevating to watch a local maestro making the Koser auditorium reverberated while he kept the audience enthralled by the sheer and clean beauty of his skillful fingers racing the length of the sitar.

IFS officer is ADG of research council
Chandigarh, April 11
Dr TP Singh, an IFS officer from Mohali, has been appointed as Assistant Director General, Climate Change in the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education,
Dehradun. His work will focus on reducing carbon dioxide emissions by way of forest-based activities and sustainable development in the country.

MC to start new projects on highway
Dera Bassi, April 11
The Municipal Council of Dera Bassi has decided to launch new projects on the national highway after getting the approval from the national highway authority.

PU flip-flop on exam centreApproves Guru Nanak College,
Ferozepur, as exam centre only to cancel it
Chandigarh, April 11
It seems that Panjab University (PU) does not have a stand as after recently approving Guru Nanak College,
Ferozepur, as the examination centre, which was debarred for holding exams for a year following an attack on a flying squad and over 150 copying cases, the university took a U-turn today again and cancelled the college as an examination centre for the ongoing exams.

Students stage protest, allege harassment by PhD guide
Chandigarh, April 11
A research scholar of Punjabi department along with various student organisations today staged a protest outside the vice chancellor office.
Mukesh Lata, a PhD student, alleged that her guide had purposefully delayed approving her thesis.

Students protest in front of the VC’s office at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Rs 7.85 crore allocated for new PU hostelMeant for international students and research scholars
Chandigarh, April 11
The Panjab University would finally be coming up with a hostel for international students and research scholars at PU’s South Campus in Sector 25. The university laid the foundation stone of the same here today.

Exchange programme
City girl to visit Japan
Chandigarh, April 11
Praghi Sharma, a Class XII student of KVBRD Air Force Station, has been selected to represent the region in JENESYS (Japan East Asia Network of Exchange for students and Youth)
programme.

Administration takes steps to prevent spread of cholera
Fatehgarh Sahib. April 11
Deputy Commissioner Yashveer Mahajan has issued orders under Section 2 of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, for taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of cholera disease within the limits of Fatehgarh Sahib district. He has directed all the Municipal Councils in the district to only supply chlorinated water.

5 kg opium seized near Ambala rly station
Ambala, April 11
The police recovered 5 kg of opium from a resident of Jharkhard near the Ambala Cantonment railway station this morning. The accused Vijay Kumar was carrying it in his bag.

Eye donation camp
Dera Bassi, April 11
DS Gurukul College of Education for Women, Gholumajra, Derabassi, organised an eye donation camp on April 10 in the college campus.

Hospital employee murder case cracked
Banur, April 11
Banur police has succeded in finding the suspects involved in the murder of Gurpreet Singh, an employee of Gian Sagar Hospital
Banur. The accused were reported to be friends of the victim and were employed at the same hospital.

12 teams to slug it out in cricket tourney
Patiala, APRIL 11
The 11th edition of the Dhruve Pandove Memorial T-20 Cricket Tournament was inaugurated at Yadavindra Public School, Patiala. Jagpreet
Singh, principal, Punjab Public School, Nabha, presided over the opening ceremony.

Labourer dies in hit-and-run case
Zirakpur, April 11
An unidentified migrant labourer died after being hit by an unknown vehicle near Singhpura village on Tuesday night. He was in his forties. The police said they got the information about the incident around 2.30 am. The body of the deceased has been kept for identification at the Dera Bassi Civil Hospital for 72 hours.

One held with 2-kg charas
Chandigarh, April 11
The AATS squad, along with the PCR, today arrested one person with two-kg
charas. The accused was arrested during a naka laid on the road separating Sectors
55 and 56. He was on foot when he tried to evade a police party.

Cricketer unable to be part of Kings XI Punjab due to visa issues
Chandigarh, April 11
Captain of Kings XI Punjab today said former Pakistan cricket player Azar Mahmood is not joining the squad due to non-approval of visa.
Earlier, the management of the Punjab team maintained that the player will join the squad later in the tourney as his wife is expecting a baby. During an interaction with the media, Adam Gilchrist, captain of the Punjab’s outfit said, “His arrival is now depending on the government’s action as he is not getting clearance from the authorities.” The local team is already facing a huge problem as a few foreign players are injured.
The Kings XI team will face the Pune Warriors in their first home ground match to be held tomorrow at PCA (Punjab Cricket Stadium),
Mohali.

Kings XI Punjab players during a practice session at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday. Tribune photo:
Vicky Gharu

Wrestling tournament on April 13
Chandigarh, April 11
The Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Wrestling Tournament will be organised on April 13 at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Ropar district. According to chief organizer, environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal will mark his presence on April 14.

Junior golf
Viraj, Tutul get top honours
Chandigarh, April 11
Kolkata's Viraj Madappa with his decent play shot one-over for a total of three-over 147 for the third position while his counterpart Tutul Ali shared fourth place with Chandigarh's Feroz Singh Garewal at eight-over 152, behind Chandigarh's Harsh Gangwar with the score of nine-over 153 as sixth during the USHA IGU Delhi Juniors' golf in Delhi.

100 children take part in golf camp
Chandigarh, April 11
A one-day golf clinic and coaching camp was organised at the Panchkula Golf Club, here today. A total of 100 children from different schools of Haryana participated in the camp. The Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna
Parishad, which lies under the Rashtriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhyan, organised the event for the class XI and X students. Three coaches were appointed to conduct the event successfully.

Students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Barwala, practise at the camp in Panchkula on Wednesday.
Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Tennis tourney from April 13
Chandigarh, April 11
The Manav Mangal Total Tennis Academy will organise Manav Mangal Total Tennis Championship at Phase X, Mohali, from April 13 to 15.